The Symptom Is Dementia
The Result Can Be Frustration For The Whole Family
It is common for people to use the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease interchangeably. However, dementia is not really a disease. It is a group of symptoms that include the loss of memory, judgment, language and complex motor skills. These symptoms are created by a variety of illnesses, with Alzheimer’s disease being the culprit in 60% of all dementias.
Dementia goes beyond the physical and mental losses of the victim and affects the whole family. Caregivers can lose their freedom, confidence, income and social contact. Everyone in the family has to face a shadow of the person they used to know. Plus, they may have to deal with care costs, a strain on their relationships, and the reality that the victim may be a danger to themselves or to someone else.
It can add up to a lot of frustration for all.
It is frustrating to worry if a loved one with dementia is cooking safely. It can also be frustrating for a loved one with dementia to be told they can no longer cook.
Family Frustrations
Victim's Frustrations
Here are some of the frustrations that a family member may endure on a typical day within the company of a loved one with the dementia.
- Lack Of Control - Their life is no longer their own. The symptoms dictate what they can and cannot do. And the current situation may not be based on reality as they know it.
- Normal Becomes Hard Work - What used to be simple, everyday chores for a senior (dressing, bathing, eating) can morph into difficult (and resisted) tasks for caregivers.
- Embarrassing Situations - They may be embarrassed for the victim who is a shadow of their former self. Or embarrassed for themselves, especially when their loved one exhibits an inappropriate behavior.
- No One To Talk To - Conversations with the victim can be limited by their ability to communicate and remember. And there may be no one else to talk to or vent with.
Family members should realize that dementia also frustrates its victim. This person is struggling to deal with changes brought on by their symptoms, as well as the related self-doubt, fear and loss.
Here are some of the common issues that can be very frustrating to someone with dementia.
- Loss Of Ability - Frustration may show when a victim denies their loss of ability, displays anger when facing such a loss, or tries to keep others from noticing the loss.
- Cannot Communicate Effectively - Cannot find the right word, may not make sense or may not comprehend what is being said.
- Cannot Remember Or Plan - In addition to forgetting names and information, there is a loss of the ability to remember what to do next or to plan what needs to be done.
- Lack Of Routine - Not staying within the recognition and memory comfort zones.
(Sources: Alzheimer’s Assn., Alzheimer’s Foundation of America)
